Hello there,
My Approach
I am informed in and pull from the therapeutic models of Emotionally-Focused Therapy, Attachment Theory, Somatic-Hakomi practices, IFS, and am HAES (Health at Every Size)-Informed for eating concerns and body image work. I believe in the power of going slow to get somewhere fast when working to create lasting change. I genuinely look forward to getting to know my clients, being a part of your exploration while we learn how you make sense of living in your world. I am drawn to deepen exploration through curious questioning, slowing down a moment, moving from thoughts to feelings, and compassionately connecting with all the parts of you. I naturally seek out patterns, learned behaviors, family systems and protective stances that we consciously or unconsciously find ourselves in. ​​When working with relationships I pull mostly from Sue Johnson's Emotionally focused therapy and from Marshall Rosenberg's Nonviolent Communication theory hoping to explore each others worlds of underlying emotions and attachment needs.
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​​​​​​​​​​​​​Therapy can be painful at times, bringing out ​​wounds, traumas, past and present hurts. I acknowledge the need for a trusted environment during these conversations, and aim to create a safe and secure therapeutic alliance at all times.
About Me
I was born and raised in California and fell in love with Canada when I moved up to B.C for University. I attended Trinity Western University and completed my Bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2005. I worked in California as a youth care worker in group homes until I married my university sweetheart and we moved to the prairies of Saskatchewan. There I found my love for the counselling field while working as an addictions counsellor at RockSolid Refuge for four years. After few of my own children, a season of life experiences and a family move back to Calgary, I pursued my passion and continued my education in counselling psychology. I studied with Yorkville University and after this and my time as a practicum student with Insight Counselling and Therapy Centre and Rise Calgary, I completed my Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology. I am currently registered with the CCPA as a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC).
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​My family and I enjoy the great outdoor lifestyle offered by the lovely Rocky Mountains and when we aren't at various sporting events we spend many weekends camping, hiking, skiing. I enjoy paddling on my SUP, causal gardening, practicing my breathwork, staring into the clouds, raising and watching my children grow, and strengthening my knowledge in somatic and emotional therapeutic work with my cat on my lap.
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My personal work
Most counsellors are in this field because at some point we were called to doing hard introspective work in our own life. My story involves first hand relationships with depression, chronic pain, divorce, co-depedency, grief, and second hand relationships with addiction and neuro-diversity. My intersectionalities include, but are not limited to being a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a stay at home parent, a landed immigrant (from the US) of middle class white-decent.
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Ethics and Registration
I am licensed and governed by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, CCPA. I adhere to their Code and Ethics and Standards of Practice.​Through the CCPA I hold the designation of a Canadian Certified Counsellor, CCC. Please check with your insurance company to ensure you are covered to work with a Certified Canadian Counsellor.
